Ratchet-wrench



(No Model.)

G. P. POE. RATCHET WRENCH..

No. 462,995. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. POE, OF MILFORD, INDIANA.

RATCHET-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,995, dated November 10, 1891. Application filed May I3, 1891. Serial No. 392,622. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that l, GEORGE F. Pon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in the county of Kosciusko and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches; andy I dohereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

- interchangeable'wrench-jaws of difterentsizes,

so that a wrench socket or jaw can be placed in the wrench to lit any-sized nut; and the invention will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved ratchet-wrench. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the removable wrench-socket and the ratchet-collar removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on line :n x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. illustrates in detail the interchangeable wrench jaws or sockets.

Referring to the several parts by their designating-numerals, 1 indicates the body of my new and improved ratchet-wrench, which is provided with a suitable handle 2. The body is formed with-the longitudinal slot or opening 3, and in the outer ends of the side plates 4 are formed the opposite openings 5 and 6. In the sides of the longitudinal opening 3, formed in the body of the wrench, are centrally pivoted the ratchets 7 and 8, and in the outer end of the body is mounted the circular ratchet-collar 9, which is formed with the series of exterior teeth and has a square opening 10 formed through its center. A spiral spring 2O is arranged transversely in the lower part of the opening 3, with its ends bearingagainst the inner ends ofthe centrallypivoted ratchets 7 and 8. It will be seen that this spring will normally press the outer locking ends of the said ratchets inward.

The interchangeable wrench jaws or socketsillustrated in detail in Fig. 4 are formed with end sockets 1l of dierent sizes to lit nuts of varying sizes. The stem of each socket is formed with a central bore 12, leading from thesocket 1l, for the reception of the end of a bolt on which the nut being screwed or unscrewed is mounted, the center of this stem 13 being square in crosssection and of such size as to fit rather loosely in the square opening 10 of the ratchet-collar 9. At each end of this square center the stem is formed with the round bearing-surfaces 14. 15, adapted to fit and turn, respectively, in the round openings 5 6. Both ends of the clutching device may be formed with sockets, as shown in one of the clutches illustrated in Fig. 4..

On the side of the flat stem 13 is secured an outwardly-curving spring 16, and when the straight stem of the clutch is pushed into the opening 10 in the ratchet-collar this spring,

pressing tightly against the inner side of the said collar, will firmly hold the removable jaw in the collar and prevent its falling out,while it can be pushed out by the hand, when desired, with a slight effort.

It will be seen that by the above-described construction the nut in the wrench can be readily pushed out and a clamping-jaw of the desired size for the particular nut to be handled can be readily slipped into the wrench in operative position.

17 indicates a movable ring, which fits around the lower end of the wrench-body just below the lower ends of the ratchets 7 8. On the upper side of this ring is formed a lug 18.

By turning this ring to the right until the lug 18 passes over the lower end of the ratchet 7 the upper end of the said ratchet will be pressed out, and the wrench can then be applied to a nut and will turn the same to the left and loosen or unscrew it. By turning the ring 17 to the left until the lug 18 passes over the lower end of the ratchet 8 the outer end of the said ratchet will be pressed out, and the ratchet can then be applied to a nut and will turn the same to the right and tighten or screw the same on its bolt. By turning the ring 17 so that the lug 18 will be clear of both ratchets the wrench can be used as an ordinary wrench, the two ratchets holding the ratchet-collar 9 from turning in either direction. A square recess 19V may be formed` in IOO the extended end of the rear side 4 to it small nuts.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and practical advantages of my new and improved ratchetwren'ch will be readily understood. It will be seen that this wrench is exceedingly convenient and handy in use, as the clamping jaws or sockets can be changed to fit nuts of various sizes, and by the peculiarconstruction of the pivoted spring-actuated ratchets 7 8 and the ring 17 and its lug 18 the wrench can be adjusted to work in either direction and still work as ratchet-wrench. By turning the ring 17 tothe right until the lug 18 passes over the lower end of the ratchet 7 the upperend of the said ratchet will be pressed out and the Wrench can be applied to a nut and will turn the same to the left and will loosen or unscrew it. By turning the ring 17 to the left until the lug 18 passes over the lower end of the ratchet 8 the oute-r end of the said ratchet will be pressed out, and the ratchet can then be applied to a nut and will turn the same to the right and tighten or screw the same on its bolt. By

turning the ring 17 so thatl the lug 18 will be clear of both ratchets the wrench can be used as an ordinary wrench, the two ratchets holding the ratchet-collar 9 from turning in either direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

The herein-described ratchet-wrench, comprising the body 1, provided with a handle 2,

a longitudinal slot or opening, the plates 4 4, I

GEORGE F. POE.

Witnesses:

EDWIN W. HIGLER, L. R. MILES. 

